Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

So what? It's a question of how bad you want the warranty then? Is it really worth like $250 more?

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

You asked a business question, and I answered it factually.

Perhaps your twisted, uncensored view of Denon's sales methodology could be blogged. I doubt it will be noticed by Denon, however.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Ok, so the 890 and 2310 have essentially all the same features. According to the Denon site, the 890 has been available since July, so why doesn't anyone have them!?!? Amazon doesn't have an ETA on getting them, and half the other "Authorized" dealers don't seem to carry it.

I might sign up for the Prime trial on Amazon, 2-day the damn 2310CI, and be done with it. I have a friend willing to buy my Onkyo TX-SR604 when he comes to town to visit next weekend, so I might as well do this. :)

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

When Denon has different product lines, it is to sell them in different stores. So your local giant chain can sell the 890 and the local high-end shop can sell the 2310, and they can be the exact same machine inside (assuming you are correct). And they don't have to compete on the "We match competitor prices!" sales. Also, note the "CI", that stands for Custom Install so the high-end store can brag about it. And Denon is well known for dumping stores that break their rules. So they come and go at particular stores.

My point being that maybe you are looking at stores that would never sell the 890. Maybe Amazon isn't supposed to have both series. Not Amazon itself, although they are a storefront for others.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Well, I ordered the 2310CI from Amazon. $4 to overnight it with a free trial of Prime. I just hope those A1 assholes aren't handling packages in western PA. I've always gotten UPS/USPS up to this point, so I'm guessing living in a rural area nobody gives a shit about might be to my benefit for once. lol

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Anyone here using the Denon AVR-1910?
Feedback and thoughts welcome...

I'm in the market to upgrade from my old Onkyo TS-595 (due to acknowledged issues decoding digital broadcast signals), and my price range is $500-ish.

I'm also eyeballing the Sony ES STR-DA2400ES. A little out of price range, but I could be swayed.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Best Buy has the Denon 890 for $799.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

You know, that Onkyo has a multichannel input. You could look at the Emotiva UMC-1 preamp, which has just about (finally!!) started shipping. $699.

This will absolutely give the best sound of anything remotely close in price. No amps, obviously, but for anyone with amps already...great sound and a great upgrade path for the future.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Dumb question of the day:
If my speakers are rated at 80w should I steer clear of a 100w per channel receiver?

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

No.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

I'm thinking of getting this.....if/when it's released:

http://emotiva.com/umc1.shtm

and pair it with this:

http://emotiva.com/upa7.shtm

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

I'm thinking of replacing my Sony STR-DA1000ES with a HDMI capable receiver (which would have the next Gen Audio Formats). I'm considering the Onkyo HT-RC160 7.2 receiver. It can be had for about $330 now and budget is my concern I suppose. Here is what I would connect to my receiver: PS3, 360, Cable DVR (all via HDMI) and a Wii via Component

A few questions:
1. Are the next gen audio formats noticeable (worth an upgrade)?
2. I have a non-slim PS3, so I believe I would have to PCM it out (I think), but it still is lossless, correct?
3. For the Wii, would I upscale it....I hear that sometimes it can cause issues.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

1. Depends on your other equipment.
2. Yes.
3. Some upscaling is good, some is not so good. Depends on your equipment.

Budget is always everyone's issue, it's what you do with it that changes things. Speakers are usually the best choice to upgrade for better sound, not new surround formats. Adding HD audio to cheap speakers won't change much, and going back to stereo with high quality speakers still sounds amazing. Throwing $300 at electronics once a year will never truly advance your HT quality, I'm afraid.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Thanks Spiky...I currently have a set of the small JBL cubes for my HT speakers. For the shape of my room and the layout, this is what I have to use until I get a dedicated Home Theatre. I also have a 10" Klipsch subwoofer.

Just curious if an HDMI would be good. I currently have HDMI running to my TV for video and then Optical running for audio on my 360/PS3/CAble Box.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

I'm still happy with my 45 watt per channel 5-6 year old H/K. I just can't bring myself to put money there. I'm saving for either a new sub or new projector when bulb blows.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Rethinking the Onkyo now....any opinions on the Sony STR-DH800 ($250i) vs Onkyo HT-RC160 ($330)

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-STR-DH800...9254432&sr=1-3

vs

http://www.amazon.com/Onkyo-HT-RC160...9254589&sr=1-1

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Wasn't the "DA" the high end stuff by Sony? Or was that ES?

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

ES.

Dx is crap. Well, the ES is now, too.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

What about this one? STR-DN1000 ($270)

Why do people loathe Sony so much?

If you had to get a receiver for around $250-$350, what would be the best bang for the buck?

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-STR-DN100...9255712&sr=8-1

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Their amps. Usually they are at the very bottom of the pile, as shown by their own specs. (specs are required to be accurately disclosed) And they spend way too much time and energy on extra surround modes that are useless.

People buy these cheap models (not just Sony), and then are looking for a replacement next year either because it just isn't doing anything for them or it's damaged in some way. Me, I have never purchased a receiver under $800, I save til I can afford what I want, and that isn't buying a $300 receiver every year. I owned my first one for over a decade (cost: ~$70/year), and my 2nd one for 7 years so far (cost: $142/year so far). The only reason I upgraded was to get new technology (Dolby Digital). I'm looking to upgrade again for new tech and to step into serious audio quality, but my current receiver is still just fine, sounds great, plays HD audio from Bluray, etc. My kids were just commenting on how incredible it sounds last week as the sound swirled around them for Transformers 2 in DTS Master Audio.

However, the specs on that Sony are not as bad as the DG series has taught us to expect. So maybe it's better than the last decade.

If I had to buy one in this range I'd probably put these ahead of the Sony.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_580TXS5...07.html?tp=179
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_022RXV4...65.html?tp=179
The Yamaha really doesn't give any usable amp specs, that worries me a bit, but it is their lowest model. However, it does use advanced DACs, which the Sony doesn't seem to. Maybe that leaves the Onkyo as the most solid right now.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Spiky is 100% correct. Well...However, specific dollar amounts aside, I totally agree with the general idea. I have brought it up before (and been slammed for it as well).

But these type threads never stop surprising me in how few (if any) ever mention sound quality as a "feature" they want. Everyone wants 5 HDMI inputs, and Lossless and conversion of all inputs to HDMI and "upconverting" to 1080p....few if any asks how that all will sound.

I'm not saying any of that is "bad" in and of itself. But if you want those things for $250 well, something has to give. And it will ALWAYS be the sound quality.

I still love my two old H/K surround receivers. No HDMI and certainly no lossless. But very "nice" sound. More to Spiky's specific dollar point, I believe getting just about any receiver today for much less than say $500 would be a step down. I'm not sure where the newest H/K's are priced and I haven't listened to the newest one's either. And even if one could argue spending $500-$600 would be in improvement, IMO it would be so minor as to not be worth the "value". Meaning I'd be better off sound quality wise getting a $500-$600 sub. Or saving for better speakers.

Though I totally get this is an individual thing. I have no desire to buy a $250-$350 receiver and step down in quality. But I am looking at new remotes that are approaching $200+ which would freak those same people out.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

After the advice, I think I may hold off another year for a receiver. My Sony STR-DA1000ES is working just fine, I just really wanted the new audio formats. My speakers are not top of the line, so I figured a new receiver really wouldn't be much different than what I have now for sound quality.

I think I may go with a new monitor this year for XMAS.

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Or....get new speakers and really have an improvement in your system!!

Stole this from Slickdeals.com

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002911V9W/?tag=slickdeals

Get a base SVS sub with this and you would have a nice little set up....or just pop for the SVS 5.1 set up....

Re: Thinking about a new receiver (need suggestions)
 

Does anybody have any experience with the Yamaha 863? It looks like last year's model, but feature-wise it looks like a lot of features for the money. What are the compromises here?